Vibration-reducing control unit



1945- H. s. P TERSON 5, 1

VIBRATION-REDUCING CONTROL UNIT Filed July 4, 1944 2 Shets-Sheet 1 Q\ a i INVENTOR.

FIG.

g A MHWV ab- H/LL/S s. PETERSON VIBRATION-REDUCING CONTROL UNIT Filed y 9. 4 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 K HILL/S s. PETERSON M 75m IITIOJM'EY the application for Patented Oct; 2, 1945 VIBRATION-REDUCING CONTROL UNIT Hillis S. Peterson, New Orleans, La., assignor to Higgins Industries, Incorporated, New Orleans, La., a. corporation of Louisiana Application July 4, 1944, Serial N 0. 543,449

8 Claims.

The invention relates to a control unit for use in connection with control systems where a controlled element is subject to vibrations which are apt to be transmitted to a control element actuated by an operator. conventional in many kinds of vehicles and an example of the applicability of the invention is in the control system for the feathering of the blades of the rotor of a rotary wing aircraft. In craft of the mentioned type,

the pilot, who actuates it to set or adjust the position of the controlled element, e. g. a swash'plate in connection with a helicopter rotor. An arrangement of this kind is disclosed for instance in U. S. Patent SerialNo. 444,799, filed by Enea Bossi on May 28, 1942. Usually. there is a neutral position from which the controlled element is deflected by the pilot in order to bring about certain reactions on the craft, be it to alter the position of the craft in space, be it to counteract external forces. In many control systems of that type, it is desirable that there is a certain tendency of the controlled element to return automatically to neutral position and, in so doing, to take along the control wheel or stick con nected to it by suitable members such as rods, cables andthe like. In general, however, the conventional connections, between the control wheel or stick and the controlled element transmit not only such desirable reactions, but also very undesirable vibrations originating with the controlled element, owing to the effect of external forces. Such vibrations transmitted to the control stick or wheel can strain the pilot very severely and exhaust him in an unduly short time.

.The invention aims, therefore, to provide a control unit of simple design and requiring little space but efi'ective to prevent or at least to reduce to a minimum the transmission of vibrations, and still to permit-the controlled element to react on the control wheel or stickin to return to neutral position.

Another object of the invention is the provision; for the indicated purpose, of a device which can be inserted, without material changes of existing structure and arrangement... into a great variety Such control systems are a control element, e: g; a wheel or stick, is permanently in the ,hand of ingly, Fig. 1 illustrates a control system a prevailing tendency of conventional conti'ol systems, and which does not materially increase therein.

The invention mainly consists of a cam mechthe friction occurring anism equivalent in efl'ect to an inclined plane 01' a predetermined slope in relation to a base normal with respect to a force acting on the plane, wherein the slope is selected from between an upper and a lower limit. the upper limit being defined as the steepest slope at which self-locking of the mem-- Fig. 1 is a diagrammatical' illustration of. an

embodiment of the invention as applied to the control system of a helicopter;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the cam mechanism shown in Fig. 1, on a larger scale;

Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating the cam movement; and I Fig. 4 is a diagram of an plane.

As stated hereinbefore, a rotary wing aircraft is a type of a vehicle to be applied with particular advantage.

equivalent inclined Accordfor the rotor of a helicopter. The rotor comprises a hub l with shaft 2 rotated by a motor (not shown) through the intermediary of' a' transmission 3. Blades 4 are so pivoted in the hub 2, that they can be oscillated about their longitudinal axis by an arm 5 projecting from the hub. Arm 5 is connected by a rod- 6 to the rotating part I of a swash plate mechanism, which also comprises a nonrotating part 8 connected by a train of elements such as rods 9 arid 9' to a control stick I0.

According to the invention, a cam mechanism II is inserted in the train of the mentioned elements or rods9, 9. This mechanism comprises a stationary part I! secured to the fuselage l3 of the craft and containing pivots I4 and I5 for two bell crank levers i6 and I1 respectively. in general, two sets of elements such as rods 9, 9' are provided and attached to the swashplate at points spaced from each other in order to render the swash plate tiltable in any desired direction with respect to the rotor axis. If this is the case, a cam mechanism II should be inserted in each of the train of elements at a suitable place between the controlling member, such as'the'control stick l0 and the controlled element, 1. e. the swash platepart8. j As stated hereinbefore, the cam mechanism Ii has the purpose of preventing the transmission of vibrations from the swash plate to the conwhich my invention may towards the right hand side under prevailing'steady force acting from the side of the swash plate to pass through to the control stick. In addition, the arrangement may be such,

as it is desirable in many cases, that the steadyi'orce passing the cam mechanism becomes reduced in its strength. Such function of the cam. mechanism is to be accomplished without materially interfering with the transmission of controlling movements from the side of the stick it! to the swash plate I, 8. The principle according to which this problem is solved by my invention will be described with reference to Fig. 4. If a weighted body bears at O on an inclined plane LR r a slope RFzLF, frictionwill prevent it from sliding downward, provided the slope does L and R. The pin 21 is secured to, a portion constituting one arm of the bell-crank lever IT. This arrangement defines the path of the pin as an arc of a circle about the pivot i and transverse in relation to the path of the slot 26. The

ideal position Of the pivot 15 would be on a line through point P at right angles to the line connecting point P with the center of the pivot I4.

However, it will be explained hereinafter that 10 the'desired result may be ,attained, even if for not exceed a value X, depending on certain qualities of the materials of the body and the plane.

11', however, the body vibrates on the plane, the

minimum slope value at which slidingoccurs will be appreciably reduced e. g. to Y. Similarly, if the body at O is so guided that it can move only in a vertical direction R'L", whereasthe inclined is shiftable in a horizontal direction LF, and considering only the friction between the plane and the body, the plane will be shifted 'the pressure of the body, when the slope value is greater than Y or X, depending on whether or not the body .vibrates. On the other hand, the body at O can,

- be raised or lowered by shifting the plane to the left or right, he. in the positions L'R' orL"R" respectively.

According to this mechanical principle, the invention provides'a cam mechanism'equivalent in action to an inclined plane of a slope selected between the mentioned values Xand'Y, in combination with means whereby a follower movable substantially transverse to the movement of the cam surface will be held in close proximity thereto, but free from constraint so as to vibrate with small amplitudes. Whether a slope value closer to the value X or the value Y is to be selected will depend on the desired sensitivity of the mechariism. Furthermore, the slope may vary throughout the arc of the active cam surface with the aforestated requirements are conceivable. The form illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 is preferred on account of it great simplicity and the possibility of readily inserting'it in existing control systems of a great variety of craft. The stationary part l2 mentioned in connection with the description of Fig. 1 is shownin Fig. 2 as substantially channel-shaped, 7 connected by web portions and 2| which may be used to secure the part 12 to a stationary part such as the fuselage of the craft. Pivot bolts H and I5 are secured to the flanges l8 and I9 and the bell crank levers l6 and-l1 are tumable, on

these bolts respectively Lever l6 has one arm 22, the free end ofwhich has a hole 23 to which a rod such as 9' of Fig. 1 may be linked. The

reasons of more convenient design as in the case of the illustrated embodiment, the angleenclosed by these lines difiers rather considerably from a right angle. The diameter of thepin, and this is extremely important, is slightly smaller than the width of the slot, but the clearance between the pin and the slot walls should not be larger than necessary to allow for free vibrations of the pin within the slot with small amplitudes. In

general, a few thousanqths of an inch will be sufficient; in an application such as illustrated in Fig. 1, I have found a clearance of .002 the re-- quired minimum. r

Slot 26 is so curved that the ratio of the movement of the pin 2'! projected on the radius from the center of the pivot it through point P to the movement of the slot is within the abovementioned values X and Y. In the case of the illustrated embodiment a ratio of approximately 1 :6 has been selected, and the slot curve is shaped as an arc of a circle, the center of which is at E' on a radius from the center of the pivot 14 at right angles to the radius through 1?. Thereby turns of lever it through equal angles to the right or left will lower or raise the. pin 21 approximatelyequal distances from the neutral position at P. However, it will be noticed that for this purpose the length of the slot from P to R is i6, and its length is so selected that lifting or lowering of the end of arm 22 will cause lifting as it will be described hereinafter in connection 7 or lowering of the end of arm 29 approximately the same distances. Thereby it can be attained that a mechanism according to the invention can 'be inserted into an existing control system witha m y The operation of the mechanism will be .de--

- other arm forms a segmen'tii with a camthe points 0 and Po respectively. It now, point slot as. The lever I8 is shown in its middle or, neutral position from which it may be turned to the left and-theright approximately equal angles. In this position, a pin .21 constituting the follower is ln engagement with the slot at a point P approximately halfways between the slot ends out any change of the transmission ratio between the control stick or wheel and the controlled element such as the swash plate device I, 8. However, it is, of course,also possible to provide a being of any other length than the illustrated arm 29, in order to adapt the mechanism according to' the invention to the requirements of a particular case.

scribed with'reference to Fig.. 3 showing 'the. mechanism of Fig. 2'in diagrammatic form. a is the pivot center of the bell-crank lever it, the

arms of which are denoted by p and r; the end .0! the arm p iS at t, and the arm ris'provided with theculved slot of the mechanism indicated by the, arc LoRo, hich is a portion of a circle about point E. The pivot center of the lever I1 is at b and its arms 0 andd have their ends atsimultaneously lifted into the position LiRi. The

65 lever arm extending in any other direction and a lever l6.- and the creep back to neutral position.

1 P1P: at the point P0.

' sired sensitivity of the ering the end of lever d to the point L2 and also lowering the point e accordingly. If we consider, on the one hand, the movement of the end of lever arm (1 in the direction of the radius r, i. e. the projection QlQ2 of RILZ on the radius r, and the movement of the slot center between P1P2, and, on the other hand, in Fig. 4 the movement of the body between R and L" when the center of the inclined plane LR is shifted between M and N, we find analogy between the'relations of QlQ2 to P1P: and R'L" to MN. If it is now assumed that a force acts at e so as to restore the system to neutral, while the slot-provided lever arm is in a position anywhere between r and T1 such force will tend to turn lever l1 in a clockwise direction, with the result that the end of arm d bearing on the cam surface of the slot will tend to lower, 1. e. to turn the slot also in a clockwise direction. Owing, however, to the friction between the end of arm d and the cam surface,

siderable vibrations. A larger slope of about 1:5 would allow a quicker return to neutral under the same loads and vibrations. However, too large a slope would allow too much ofthereverse 'forces'to be transmitted through the'mechanism,

thus destroyingits effectiveness and sensitivity.

It appears therefore, that the slope, fora mechl anism of the illustrated type, than about 1:4. In certain instances it may be desirable to provide a high degree of irreversibility near the neutral position and quick-acting return forces at the extreme positions. In that event the slot may be so shaped that the equivalent slope value of the middle portion of the slot should not. be larger is closer to 1:7 and that the value of the end portions is closer to 1:4- Such a slot curve would,

I of course, differ from the illustrated arc of a cirand to the selected slope ratio, the system is locked in its instantaneous position. Similarly, if the point c has been lowered by a preceding movement of point t, a force tending to restore the mechanism to neutral, 1. e. to lift and thus, to turn lever ll in a counter-clockwis direction,

will not cause any movement of lever l6 for the same reasons. Vibrations originating with the system connected to the end e of lever II will notbe transmitted or will be transmitted to an insignificant extent only, to lever I6 on account of the above-mentioned clearance between the pin 21 and the slot walls. If, however, a restoring force prevails in the presence of vibrations, the

friction will be overcome, with the result that parts connected thereto will It has been stated hereinbefore that the ideal location of the pivot b is on a tangent to the are In the drawings, the location of the pivot differs-rather considerably from the ideal. The actual position of point b has been selected in order to show that the effect of a deviation from the ideal is not very material. Whereas in the ideal case the movement of the end of arm d would practically coincide with the line Q1Q2, arm (1 according to the drawings moves on line R1112 which slightly differs from QiQz as to length and direction. The influence of this difference can be balanced by correctly selecting the slope slightly different from that which would be suitable for the ideal case. Furthermore, a torque may additionally occur owing to the fact that the direction of a force exercised by the pin' 21 on the cam surface does not pass through the center of the pivot a. Such torque, depending on its direction, may either increase or decrease the self-locking quality of the mechanism. This iniluence, however, can also be counteracted if.

cle. Although it is advisable to check in each case, according to circumstances, which slope furnishes best results, the mentioned slope limits of 1:7 and 1:4 can be considered as generally valid, and only in exceptional cases slope values above or below these limits may beadequate.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many alterations and modifications of the mechanism illustrated and described are possible without departing from the spirit and essence of my invention which for this reason shall be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A cam mechanism for a vibration-reducing control unit comprising a first part adapted to be operated by an actuating member and including a cam surface, a second part adapted to be connected to a driven member and constituting a follower normally in engagement with said cam surface, said cam surface being so curved as to be equivalent in effect to a plane inclined in relation to a basenormal with respect to a force acting on said plane, the slope of said plane being selected from between an upper and a lower limit, the upper limit being the steepest slope at which self-locking owing to, friction can occur with respect to steady forces acting from the side of the driven member to the actuating member, and said lower limit being the smallest slope at which the self-locking quality can be overcome by vibrations of the said follower, and an abutment for engagement by said follower when the latter tends to separate from said cam surface more than a very small distance.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the radii of the active arc of the cam curve vary in length so that said are is equivalent in action to a varying slope within said upper and lower limits.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the radii of the median portion of the active arc of the cam curve are longer than the radii of the end portions of said are so that said end portions are equivalent inaction to a steeper slope than said median portion.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said upper limit is approximately 1:4 and said lower limit 1:7." v 5. A vibration-reducing control unit comprising a pivoted member including a curved cam slot and means to oscillate said member about its pivot appreciably smaller than about 1:? would make the unit irreversible even in the presence of conthrough an arc of selected length according to the length of the slot, a follower member engag.

ing insaid slot and including means to transmit movement of said follower to an external member, and means to restrict movement of the slot-engaging portion of said follower to a path substantially transverse to the slot curve. said slot being sumciently wide to permit the engaging follower p' and being so curved thatthe ratio of motion to the motion of a point of the slot. is

portion to vibrate therein with small amplitudes,

equivalent to a slope of a plane inclined in relation to a base normal, with'respect to a force acting on said plane wherein said slope is selected between an upper and a lower limit, the upper limit being the steepest slope at which self-locking owing to friction can occur with respect to steady forces acting from the side of the follower .to the pivoted member, and the lower limit being the smallest slope at which the self-locking quality can be overcome by vibrations of said follower. 6. A vibration-reducing control unit comprising .a pivoted member including means to oscillate said member about its pivot through an arc of selected length and a cam slot curved according to an arc of a circle eccentric in relation tothe pivot of said member, a follower member engaging in said slot and including means-to transmit a movement of said follower to an external member,

t and means to restrict movement of the slot-engaging portion of said follower to a path substantially transverse to the slot curve, said slot being sumciently wide to permit the engaging follower portion to vibrate therein with small amplitudes,

the follower friction can occur with respect to steady forces acting from the side of the follower to the pivoted member, and the lower'llmit being the smallest slope at which the self-locking quality can be overcome byvibrations of said follower.

7. A vibration-reducing control unit comprising two pivoted bell-crank levers, the first one of said lever including one bell-crank levers including one arm to oscillate it through an arc of selected length, theother arm of said first lever being provided with a cam slot curved according to an arc of a circle eccentric in relation to the pivot of said first lever, said second arm to transmit movement of said lever to an external member, the other arm of said second lever constituting a follower in engagement. with said slot, the centerof said slot are being located laterally with respect to the connecting line of the pivots of the levers, and the pivot of said second lever in relation to the pivot of said first lever being so located that the engagin P rtion ofsaid follower is movable in a path transverse to said slot curve, and the diameter of said slot and its eccentricity being so selected that the ratio of the follower motion to the motion of a slot point is between 1:4 and 1:7.

8. A device as claimed in claim "7', the first mentioned arms of said first and said second lever exv tending toward the same side of the connecting line of the pivots and being substantially parallel when saidfollower is in the middle position in said, slot and being of such lengths that the ends of both said lever arms move substantially on arcs of equal lengths.

Imus srETERS N. 

